Flexible hemline-shaped microfibers for liquid transport

Flexible hemline-shaped microfibers for liquid transport

11 January 2024 | Chaoyu Yang, Yunru Yu, Luoran Shang & Yuanjin Zhao
This study presents a novel platform for directional liquid transport using flexible hemline-shaped microfibers derived from microfluidics. These microfibers, with periodic parallel microcavities along their axial direction, feature sharp edges and wedge corners that enable unilateral pinning and capillary rise of liquids. This structure allows for directional liquid transport along hydrophilic substrates with a single fiber or along hydrophobic substrates or even without any substrate when paired with another fiber. The directional transport behavior is applicable to a wide range of liquids, including those with different surface energies and viscosities. The platform demonstrates versatility in open microfluidics, water extraction, and liquid transport along arbitrary three-dimensional paths. The microfibers' ability to control the direction, speed, and distance of liquid transport makes them suitable for various applications, such as droplet manipulation, long-distance liquid transport, and water-oil separation. The study highlights the advantages of this platform over existing methods, which often rely on predesigned surfaces with sophisticated microstructures, by providing a more universal and flexible solution for directional liquid transport.This study presents a novel platform for directional liquid transport using flexible hemline-shaped microfibers derived from microfluidics. These microfibers, with periodic parallel microcavities along their axial direction, feature sharp edges and wedge corners that enable unilateral pinning and capillary rise of liquids. This structure allows for directional liquid transport along hydrophilic substrates with a single fiber or along hydrophobic substrates or even without any substrate when paired with another fiber. The directional transport behavior is applicable to a wide range of liquids, including those with different surface energies and viscosities. The platform demonstrates versatility in open microfluidics, water extraction, and liquid transport along arbitrary three-dimensional paths. The microfibers' ability to control the direction, speed, and distance of liquid transport makes them suitable for various applications, such as droplet manipulation, long-distance liquid transport, and water-oil separation. The study highlights the advantages of this platform over existing methods, which often rely on predesigned surfaces with sophisticated microstructures, by providing a more universal and flexible solution for directional liquid transport.
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Understanding Flexible hemline-shaped microfibers for liquid transport